Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, toothache plants are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing toothache plants.
This plant is known by a few other common names as well, including spilanthes, electric daisy, buzz buttons, saladcress, jambu, and eyeball plant, among others. Many of these names were inspired by its rapid numbing action. See the Ingestibility section below for more information.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Toothache Plants Belong To?
Toothache plants (Spilanthes acmella) belong to the Asteraceae family, also known as the daisy family.
Some of their relatives include feverfew, sunflowers, and tarragon.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Toothache Plants?
The minimum container depth recommended for toothache plants is 4 inches.
The container should also be at least 4 inches wide.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Toothache Plants?
Some of toothache plants' best companions are as follows:
- Echinacea
- Catnip
- Catmint
- Shasta daisy
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Mints such as spearmint and peppermint
- Lavender
- Verbena
- Lemon verbena
- Dahlia
- Garlic
- Onion
- Chives
- Leek
- Shallot
- Ramps
- Tomato
- Peppers such as poblano and habanero
- Eggplant
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Toothache Plants?
Toothache plants are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with toothache plants are as follows:
- Marshmallow
- Watercress
- Chard
- Celery
What Soil Conditions Do Toothache Plants Need?
Toothache plants prefer rich, well-draining soil.
How Long Do Toothache Plants Take to Germinate?
Toothache plants take 5-7 days to germinate at a temperature of 65-85°F.
How Much Sun Do Toothache Plants Need?
Toothache need full sun. Specifically, they grow best with 8-12 hours of sunlight.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and toothache plants grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Do Toothache Plants Need?
Toothache plants need 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Toothache Plants?
Toothache plants grow fastest in temperatures of 65-80°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some toothache plants are bred for longer harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Toothache Plants Get?
The average height of toothache plants is 6-16 inches.
Their average width is 12-18 inches.
Are Toothache Plants Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Toothache plants are annual herbs, meaning that they start and end their lives in the same year.
How Do Toothache Plants Reproduce?
Toothache plants reproduce by seed.
How Many Flowers Are Produced Per Toothache Plant?
For toothache plants, how many flowers are produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type and variety.
Most toothache plants produce 5-10 flowers per stalk. The number of stalks per plant varies based on the size and growing conditions of the plant.
Can Toothache Plants Be Ingested?
Toothache plant flowers are edible.
Toothache plant flowers have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. But they are best known for their namesake numbing and analgesic actions on the teeth, gums, and throat. They can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea (infusions) and tinctures.
Toothache plant flowers are most potent when picked fresh and chewed directly, but a tea or tincture made with such fresh flowers can also be effective. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:2 at 95% alcohol is suggested for a fresh toothache plant flower tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting toothache plant flowers.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of toothache plants rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for the toothache plant here!
Toothache plants are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: